Trolley.



D. E. BARTON, DEGD. J. H. srmwn, ADMINISTRATOR.

TROLLEY.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT. 16, 1909.

1 ,085,3 1 8. Patented Jan. 27, 191i 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPII COuWASHlNUTON, u. C.

D. E. BARTON, DECD. 1.. H. SPENOE, ADMINISTRATOR.

TROLLEY.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1909.

Patented J an. 27, 1914.

2 EKEETE-SHBET 2.

CO LUMB|A PMNOGEAPH 0).. WASHINGTON. o. c.

Mfg/

tirra sra'rns i grnnr oiuucn.

DELIBERT E. BARTON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN; JAMES H. SPENCE ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID BARTON, DECEASED.

TROLLEY.

Application filed September 16, 1909.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, DELBERT E. BARTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Trolleys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in trolleys.

The object of my invention is to provide a form of trolley which will run more steadily and cause less vibration in the wire than those heretofore used. Also to secure more efficient and constant electrical conduction and greater durability than has heretofore been attained in a trolley of this class. Also to provide means for quickly removing or substituting wheels in case the one in use becomes damaged or unserviceable.

Vith these objects in view, I have devised a trolley having an oil reservoir encircling one end portion of the bearing, the arrangement being such as to secure a slow feed of oil to the bearing without material leakage to the exterior, the electrical transmission from the rotating member to the supporting harp being principally through contacts immersed in the oil of said reservoir.

I have also provided a device for wire contact. preferably a non-rotatable shoe, which is of light weight as compared with the wheels and is supported from the harp in close proximity to the wheel by an independently acting spring actuated arm, adapted to hold the shoe with a comparatively light pressure against the wire. By reason of its light weight and pressure the shoe yields and returns so quickly in case of sudden shocks, that such movements will seldom. if ever, correspond with those of the trolley wheel with its greater weight and consequent inertia. Either the trolley wheel or shoe, or both of these devices will therefore be in contact with the wire at all times. I have also found that with a shoe of such light weight and pressure, which either re mains in continuous contact with the wire or returns thereto in advance of the trolley wheel. its pressure re-acts upon the trolley wheel and therefore the shock which the latter communicates to the wire upon returning to it materially reduced. It is not absolutely essential to the successful use of this device that a sliding, as distinguished from a. rolling contact, should be employed, but it Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1914.

Serial No. 517,986.

is diflicult, if not impossible, to provide a durable and eflicient rolling device which will contact with the wire in sufliciently close proximity to the trolley wheel, and allow sutiicient lateral play to compensate for the swaying movement of the cars, (which is transmitted through the trolley wheel as a pivot) without introducing so much weight that the device will leave the wire simultaneously with the trolley wheel, and will increase rather than diminish the difficulties experienced in keeping the wire steady and the wheel in contact therewith.

In the following description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a trolley wheel embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1, the contact brush being removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof on an inclined plane through the pole connection of the harp and the auxiliary contact shoe. Fig. i is an end elevation of a portion of the trolley wheel showing the contact brush in position. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the contact brush. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, drawn axially through the wheel memher and its bearing. Fig. 7 is a detail view of a fragment of the device showing a portion of the adjusting ring and the locking dog therefor in position of release. Fig. 8 is an axial sectional view of the journal bushing.

Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

A harp member 1, preferably single armed, is supported in the ordinary manner from a trolley pole 2, and at its upper end is provided with a head piece 4 having a laterally extending spindle 5 for the trolley wheel 6. This head piece t has an interior cavity 7 extending outwardly through the spindle, which may be tubular in form. The head-piece is further provided with an annular flange S which extends over the inner end of the spindle 5 and is threaded to receive a flanged nut 9. The trolley wheel 6 has a thimble-shaped hub 11, provided with an interior journal bushing 12 which rotatably fits the spindle 5 and is secured to the hub. preferably by a screw 14 having a conical head 15 and nut 16, as shown in Fig. 3. The outer end of the bushing 12 abuts a shoulder 13 in the hub. The inner end of the bushing 12 is provided with a flange 18, which abuts the wall 19 of the head piece 4, and another flange 20 at a short distance from this end of the bushing is engaged by the inwardly projecting annulus of the flanged-nut 9, with an interposed non-metallic and metallic packing ring and washer 24 and 25 respectively, the nut 9 thus serving to hold the trolley wheel on the spindle and by means of the packing rings to provide a non-leaking joint. The space 26 between the flange 20 and wall 19 communicates through apertures 27 in the wall 19 with the head piece cavity 7, the latter being preferably of larger diameter in the bead-piece than the spindle. The cavity 7 and space 26 is intended to be filled with lubricant, which is distributed to the bearing through spiral grooves 28 in the bushing 12. The end wall 29 of the hub 11 constitutes one wall of the cavity 7.

The flanged nut 9 is locked in any desired position of adjustment by a spring actuated locking dog 30, slidably connected with the harp at 31 and 32, and adapted to engage in suitable notches 33 in the exterior surface of the nut 9, which is preferably formed with teeth or outwardly extending projections to facilitate its re-adjustment or removal. The spaces between the teeth thus comprise the notches 33.

The end wall 29 of the trolley wheel hub is provided with an axially disposed inwardly I projecting contact post 35, extending into the spindle cavity. The head piece 4 is provided with a set of inwardly projecting axially disposed brushes 36, which also extend into the spindle cavity and resiliently embrace the sides of the post 35, these brushes being preferably formed of resilient material. They are connected with the head piece by a bolt 38, which has threaded engagement in a suitable head piece aperture and in a ring flange 44 extending outwardly therefrom. This bolt 38 is axially slotted to receive the ends of the brushes at 39, the latter being secured to the bolt by rivet 40. The bolt is provided with a socket 41 in its outer end to receive a suitable key, whereby the bolt and brushes may be readily removed and replaced. The post and brushes constitute an electrical connection between the trolley wheel and harp.

A shoe 42, adapted for sliding contact with the wire in the rear of the trolley wheel, is resiliently supported by an arm 43, pivotally mounted on the ring flange 44 and normally held in a raised position by a spring 45, one end of which is connected to a lug 47 on the hub portion of the arm 43, and the other end of which is connected with the harp at 48. The shoe 42 is detachably secured to the arm 43 and is preferably made reversible, the end portions being alike, and the central in its bearing surface.

portion having like upper and lower surfaces adapted for contact with the wire. The bearing surfaces 49 are preferably convex in form. This shoe extends across the under surface of the wire and is of suiiicient length to permit it to swing from side to side, during swaying movements of the car, without leaving the wire, the rounded convex bearing surface and the swaying of the car causing a continual shifting of the bearing point, which prevents groove forming.

The under-surface of the shoe is hollowed out, the shoe being made as light as is consistent with the requirements of strength and wearing capacity, in order that its inertia may diifer as widely as possible from that of the trolley wheel. A flexible conducting cable 50 preferably connects the shoe with the harp at 51, whereby the current is shunted around the spring 45. The swinging movements of the arm 43 are limited by shoulders 52 on the harp. lVhen the shoe is in contact with the wire however, the normal position of this arm will be about midway between these shoulders.

If desired, an external electrical connection between the trolley wheel and harp may be provided by attaching a resilient brush to the lower portion of the harp in such a manner that it will bear upon the end wall may be provided with graphite pockets 56 The brush may be conveniently secured to the harp by passing it through a supporting strap 57 to a position where an opening in its lower end will register with a harp projection 58 and a brush projection 59 will register with a suitable harp recess. With this construction, the brush may be readily removed and replaced at pleasure. I do not consider this brush essential, but it may be inserted and used, either independently or as an auxiliary to the interior brushes, in case of a failure of such brushes to operate properly, through defective construction, insufficient care or for any other reason.

The auxiliary contact member or shoe provides an additional or independent path for the current from the wire to the harp, which is desirable for heavy loads and particularly with large motors, such as are employed on interurban roads. Owing to its independent spring actuated movements, and the difference in inertia between it and the trolley wheel, this shoe, under all ordinary conditions, will so operate in connection with the trolley wheel as to maintain an unbroken connection with the trolley wire, either through the wheel or the shoe, thus avoiding arcing, with resulting injury to the parts.

The cavity 7 may be wholly or partially filled with a heavy oil or grease, which will remain for a considerable period, as there -29 of the trolley-wheel hub. This wall 29- will be substantially no leakage if the parts are properly constructed and adjusted. Access may be quickly had to the interior at any time, however, by releasing dog and unscrewing nut 9, whereupon the trolley wheel may be removed and repaired or another substituted.

lVith the above described construction it will be observed that I have provided a trolley harp having a stud shaft or spindle, which will hold an effective supply of lubricant for long periods, and is so constructed and arranged that the wheel may be removed and replaced, or another wheel substituted by the men in charge of the car, without material loss of time, or danger of injury to the electrical connections. Also that my trolley is provided with an auxiliary contact device, the inertia of which is so different from that of the trolley wheel, as to maintain a continuous contact with the wire, by preventing the intervals of shoe separation from coinciding with those of trolley wheel sepa ration, also that I am enabled to provide inclosed electrical brushes which are )rotected from damage, but which may e easily reached, if necessary, without danger of disarranging the contacts, even though the trolley be taken apart. by inexperienced persons.

The terms and expressions employed in this description and the appended claims are used as terms of description and not of limitation, it not being my intention to limit the scope of my invention by excluding any mechanical equivalent for the devices herein specifically shown and described.

While I have shown and described my invention as involving the use of an auxiliary shoe, it will be understood that this is not an essential feature, although it will be found desirable for interurban use. For urban use it will usually be found desirable to omit the shoe. It can be readily removed, or if desired the trolley wheel and shoe may be both removed and another wheel substituted by the conductor or motor-man without material delay in the operation of the car.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a trolley, the combination of a supporting harp, a tubular stud spindle thereon, a trolley wheel rotatably mounted on the stud spindle and having a hub covering the outer end thereof, a post extending axially from the hub into the stud spindle, and a brush on said harp extending longitudinally into the stud spindle and into contact with said post.

2. in a trolley, a harp member provided with a lubricant chamber, a spindle supported by the harp member, a trolley wheel having a hub fitted to said spindle and provided with a shoulder spaced from said chamber, and a flanged ring having threaded engagement with the harp member and also engaging said hub shoulder, said lubricant chamber being provided with openings communicating between said chamber and the space between its wall and the hub shoulder.

3. In a trolley, the combination of a harp member provided with a hollow cylindrical wall forming an oil chamber and having a stud spindle of less diameter extending axially outwardly therefrom, and re ing member connected with the cylindrical wall and projecting into a position for engaging the inner end portion of a trolley wheel hub and retaining a trolley wheel on said spindle, together with a trolley wheel having a hub formed to rotatably interlock with said retaining member.

at. In a trolley, the combination of a harp member provided with a laterally pro ecting stud spindle, a trolley wheel having a hub closed at one end and covering said spindle, a flanged retaining member removably connected with the harp member, and a flange connected with the hub and rotatably engaging the flanged retaining member.

5. In a trolley, the combination of a harp member provided with a laterally projecting hollow stud spindle, a trolley wheel having a hub closed at one end and covering said spindle, a flanged retaining member removably connected with the harp member, and a flange connected with the hub and rotatably engaging the flanged retaining member, said harp member having an oil cavity communicating with the interior of the spindle, and also with the space inclosed by said flanged retaining member.

6. In a trolley, the combination of a harp member provided with a laterally projecting stud spindle, a trolley wheel having a hub closed at one end and covering said spindle, a flanged cylindrical retaining member removably connected with the harp member, and a flange connected with the hub and rotat-ably engaging the flanged retaining member and forming an oil cavity inclosed by the retaining members and hub, said harp mem ber having an oil cavity which includes the interior of the spindle, and communisates with the space inclosed by said flanged retaining member, and said hub having a removable bushing provided with a spiral oil feed groove leading from said hub flange along the bearing surface of the spindle.

7. In a trolley, a harp member provided with an oil cavity, and having a spindle extending laterally from said cavity, said harp member having an annular threaded surface concentric with the inner end of the spindle, in combination with a trolley wheel on said spindle, provided with a hub flange, and a flanged retaining member having threaded engagement with said annular surface, and engaged for relative rotation with the hub flange.

8. In a trolley, the combination of a harp member having a head piece provided with an oil cavity, a spindle extending laterally therefrom, an annular flange extending over said spindle, a trolley wheel, a flanged member connected therewith, and a retaining nut having a flange loosely engaging the hub flange, and having threaded engagement with said annular head piece flange, one wall of said oil cavity being provided with an aperture leading to the space between said last mentioned flange and the spindle.

9. In a trolley, the combination of a harp member having a. head piece provided with an oil cavity, a spindle extending laterally therefrom, an annular flange extending over said spindle, a trolley wheel, a flanged member connected therewith, and a retaining nut having a flange loosely engaging the hub flange, and having threaded engagement with said annular head piece flange, one wall of said oil cavity being provided with an aperture leading to the space between said last mentioned flange and the spindle, and said retaining and hub flanges having washer and packing rings interposed between their opposing bearing surfaces.

10. In a trolley, the combination of a harp member having a head piece provided with an oil cavity, a spindle extending lat erally therefrom, an annular flange extending over said spindle, a trolley wheel, a flanged member connected therewith, and a retaining nut having a flange loosely engaging the hub flange, and having threaded engagement with said annular head piece flange, one wall of said oil cavity being provided with an aperture leading to the space between said last mentioned flange and the spindle, and said retaining and hub flanges having washer and packing rings interposed between their opposing bearing surfaces and a spring actuated latch adapted to hold said retaining nut against accidental rotation.

11. In combination, a trolley harp and a trolley-wheel thereon, one having a. chambered hub, and the other having a chambered bearing stud; the chamber of one of said parts being adapted to receive the chambered member of the other part; contact devices positioned within the chamber of the interior part, a flange fast on one of said parts; a collar screwed onto the other part engaging the flange for stopping the parts against movement in axial direction, and means for locking the collar against rotation.

12. In combination, a trolley harp and a trolley wheel thereon, one having a chambered hub and the other having a chambered bearing stud, the chamber of one of said parts being adapted to receive the chambered member of the other part by endwise movement of one part into the other; contact terminals concentrically mounted within the two chambers and adapted to be engaged one within the other by the endwise entrance of the one chambered member into the chamber of the other, and means for securing wheel and harp against relative displacement in axial direction.

13. In combination, a trolley harp and a trolley wheel thereon, one of said parts having a chambered hub and the other having a chambered bearing stud, the chamber of one of said parts being adapted to receive the chambered member of the other part by endwise insertion of the one within the other; contact terminals co-axially mounted on said members respectively within their respective chambers and adapted to engage each other by movement in axial direction, one of said parts having an axial aperture with respect to the chamber in said part at the end of said chamber opposite that at which the other part is applied; and a plug closing such aperture and carrying the con tact terminal pertaining to said parts.

14. In combination, a trolley harp and a trolley wheel thereon, the harp having a chambered bearing stud and the wheel having a chambered hub adapted to receive the bearing stud, contact terminals co-axially mounted in the chambers of said parts respectively, and adapted for endwise engage ment with each other; a bushing interposed between the chambered stud and the chambered hub and detachably attached to the latter, and provided with an exteriorly projecting annular flange near one end; a

coupling collar having at one end an interiorly projecting flange, and interiorly threaded at the other end; the harp having an exteriorly threaded boss concentric with the bearing stud, such collar having its flange engaged with the flange of the bushing and being screwed onto said boss, and means for locking the collar against rotation.

15. In combination, a trolley harp and a trolley wheel thereon, one of said parts having a chambered bearing stud and the other having a chambered hub, the chamber of one of said parts being adapted to receive the chambered member of the other part by endwise insertion therein; contact terminals co-axially mounted in said chambers respectively for endwise engagement with each other, a flange fast on one of said chambered parts; a collar screwed onto the other part engaging the flange for stopping the parts against relative movement in axial direction, said collar being peripherally notched, and a dog mounted on the part to which the collar is screwed, and adapted to engage the notches to lock the collar against rotation.

16. In a trolley, the combination of a harp, a spindle supported therefrom, a trolley wheel rotatably mounted thereon and pro vided with an axially disposed contact post,

and an axially disposed brush connected with the harp and arranged for rotating contact with the post.

17. In a trolley, a harp member provided 5 with a tubular spindle forming a lubricant receiving cavity extending through said spindle, a trolley wheel provided with a hub forming, at one end, one wall of said cavity,

and having a shoulder at the other end, a

10 ring having threaded engagement with the harp member and overlapping said hub shoulder, said cavity extending to said hub shoulder and adapted to permit the delivery of lubricant to the hub.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 15 in the presence of two witnesses.

DELBERT E. BARTON. \Vitnesses Lnvnnn'r'r C. \VHEELER, I. D. BREMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

